Picture hanging means



0d. 19, 1948- Vo. H. HEDsTRoM PICTURE HANGING MEANS Filed Juge lI5, 1946 FIG.2.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 19, 1948 UNITED STATES .PATENT YOFFICE 2,451,554 PICTURE HANGING MEANS Olof H. Hedstrom, Hartford City, Ind.

Application June 3, 1946, Serial No. 673,907

The invention relates to means for hanging,r on a wall picture frames or similar articles.

It is the object of the invention to provide a unit including a wall fixture which is easily attachable to the frame and to the wall and which is adjustable to vary the height without changing the wall fixture.

It was the former custom to mount picture frames and other articles on a wall by suspending them from a picture molding. More recently it is the custom to conceal the hangers which necessitates mounting the wall fixture in rear of the frame. If, however, after once attaching this fixture it is desired to change the height of the picture, this requires either the shifting of the fiX- ture to the detriment of the wall or the changing of the length of the attachment cord. It is also a common defect in picture hanging that the lengths of the two strands of the cord from the hanger are not equal so that the picture stands askew. To overcome these defects I have devised a unit including a wall fixture, a standard length of cord or picture wire and fasteners at the opposite ends of the latter adapted for quick engagement with the picture frame. that the length of the two strands from the wall fixture are always equal and at the same time to provide for vertical adjustment, the cord or picture wire is return bent at its center to form a loop which can be drawn through the hanger and clamped in different positions of adjustment.

More in detail and as shown in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a picture frame to which my improved unit is applied and indicating in full and dotted lines different positions of adjustment of the frame on the wall;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the wall fixture;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central Ysection therethrough;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the front portion broken away to illustrate the manner of drawing the cord loop through the fixture;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 3 illustrating the drawing of the loop through the clamp to adjust the height of the picture;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the unit detached;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the wall fixture illustrating a modiiied means for attaching the same to the wall.

My improved unit comprises a predetermined length of picture cord or wire A which has attached to its opposite ends fasteners B and B adapted for quick engagement with opposite sides of the picture frame. C is a wall fixture prefer- To insure Y 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-32) ably formed of a metallic strip which is return bent to form substantially parallel outer and inner portions C and C2. At the lower ends these portions are 'fashioned to form cooperating clamping jaws D and D. yThe rear portion C? vhas a central aperture E above the jaw D which is of suitable size for drawing therethrough a central loop F in the cord A. Preferably the portion removed to form this aperture is bent downward at E' to form a rounded bearing over which the looped cord may be drawn from the rear to the front and between the jaws D and D. The arrangement is such that while the cord can be drawn freely in a forward direction, the load of the frame on the rear portions together with the friction of the jaw D against the loop will cause the clamping of the latter in any position of the adjustment. If, however, it is desired to release the loop, it is only necessary to move forward the portion C' and jaw D to effect an unclamping. The material of which the member C is formed is preferably resilient and is biased to move the jaws D and D towards each other so that clamping will automatically take place. For securing the xture C to the Iwall it is provided with an aperture G therethrough near the upper return bent end so that it may be engaged with a nail or hook, such as H. In the modified construction shown in Fig. 7, a nail I-I is in engagement with an inclined aperture through the member C so that it is only necessary to drive this nail into the wall for attachment of the fixture.

With the construction as described the fasteners B and B' may be attached to the frame preferably by driving them in with a hammer. The wall fixture C is then attached to the wall preferably in a position which will be in rear of the frame when correctly positioned. The loop F is then drawn :through the xture until the desired height of the frame on the wall is obtained such, for instance, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. If this is not satisfactory, the position of the frame may be shifted as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1. However, in each position of adjustment the length of the two portions A and A2 respectively on opposite sides of the fixture C will be equal so that the frame will |be held in vertical position.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a picture frame hanging means the comlbination with a cord of predetermined length having fasteners secured to the opposite ends thereof adapted for engagement with opposite side portions of the picture frame of a wall engaging member apertured for the drawing therethrough and downward therefrom of a cen-tral 3 loop portion of said cord and provided with clamping means for engaging saidl loop beyond said aperture to hold the same in diiierent positions of adjustment against reverse movement under the load of the frame.

2. In a picture :frame hanging means the combination with a cord of predetermined length having fasteners secured to the opposite ends thereof for-engagement with apicture trame oi a. lwall engaging rnemberhaving inner and outer portions terminating in cooperating clamping jaws, one of said portions being apertured fort the drawing therethrough and downward between said jaws of a central loop portion of said cord whereby the lengths of the portions'o-f said G'Qrd on opposite sides of said wall engaging member and between the same and said frame will always be equal.

3. In a picture frame hanging means the combination with a cord of= predetermined length having fasteners secured to -the opposite ends thereof forengagement with a picture frame of a wall engaging member-including return bent portions terminating in cooperating clamping jaws,y oneof-sadfportions being apertured for drawing therethrough and downward between saidjaws of a central loop portion of saidcord.

4. In a picture frame hanging means the combination with a cord of predetermined length having fasteners secured to the opposite ends thereof for engagement with the picture frame of a wall engaging member formed of a return bent resilient strip biased to urge the two por-v tions thereof towards each other, said portions terminating in cooperating clamping jaws, one of saidportions being apertured for the drawing Vtherethrough and downward between said jaws REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the leof this patent:

UNITED vSTATES PATENTS 2 `Number Name Date 74,839 Marston et al Feb. 25, 1868 913,125 Greene Feb. 23, 1909 

